How to Prepare for In-Home Care

How to Prepare for In-Home Care

At first, your loved one might be resistant to the idea of having an unfamiliar caregiver in his or her home every day. However, with the proper preparations, you can ease the transition to in-home care for everyone involved.

What is in-home care?

With in-home care, seniors are provided the safety and security they need while still being able to choose how they live their day-to-day lives. Your loved one can remain in the comfort of his or her own home while receiving the benefit of a dedicated caregiver to help out with activities of daily living.

How to prepare for in-home care

The first step in preparing for in-home care is to talk to your loved one about

what he or she can expect. Approach the topic with patience and understanding – you may be met with a reluctant attitude at first. Here are some talking points to guide your discussion:

Focus on the positive aspects. Emphasize that your loved one will be able to remain independent, receiving assistance only when necessary. Point out the activities and tasks your loved one will still be able to do alone, and that he or she will continue to have the freedom to make choices.
Discuss what a caregiver can do. Does your elderly relative have trouble preparing healthy meals? Is changing the sheets and bedding too difficult to manage alone? Talk about how these challenging tasks can be made easier with the help of a live-in caregiver.
Interview potential caregivers together. Let your loved one know his or her opinion is valued by involving them in the interview process. If the senior feels in control of the situation, he or she might be more willing to receive help in the form of in-home care.

Once you’ve talked to your loved one about the positive aspects of in-home care and made him or her feel involved in the decision making process, it’s time to prepare the home. Some of the biggest dangers in a senior’s home are throw rugs, loose floorboards, clutter in hallways, and obstructed pathways. Be sure to clear these obstacles prior to transitioning to in-home care to avoid trips, falls, bumps, and bruises.

Other small changes that can make a big difference include smoke detectors with strobe lights and vibrate features, a carbon monoxide detector with high sensitivity, and anti-scald devices and grab bars in shower and bathtubs.

We’re here for you

At Avalon Homecare in San Diego, we provide seniors with the means to live full, independent, and dignified lives within the comfort of their own homes. To find out more about our care services or to schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at (800) 723-4197.